United States coinage - Your Art History Reference Guide!

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United States coinage


There are six denominations of United States coinage (or specie) currently in circulation by the United States Mint. All coins have monetary value equal to a fraction (from 1/100th to 100/100th) of the United States dollar.

Contents

Coins currently in circulation

Coin Value Design on front (obverse) Design on back (reverse)
One-cent coin (popularly known as a penny) $0.01 Abraham Lincoln Lincoln Memorial
Five-cent coin (popularly known as a nickel) $0.05 Thomas Jefferson Monticello; temporarily displaced by Westward Journey Series (2004-2005)
Dime $0.10 Franklin Roosevelt torch, oak branch, olive branch
Quarter $0.25 George Washington Eagle; temporarily displaced by State Quarter Series (1999-2008)
Half-dollar $0.50 John Kennedy Great Seal surrounded by 50 stars
Dollar $1.00 Eagle in flight

Several non-circulating bullion coins are also produced by the United States Mint

  • Hundred-dollar bullion coin, $100, one troy ounce (~31 grams) platinum
  • Fifty-dollar bullion coin, $50, half troy ounce (~15.5 grams) platinum
  • Fifty-dollar bullion coin, $50, one troy ounce (~31 grams) gold
  • Twenty-five-dollar bullion coin, $25, half troy ounce (~15.5 grams) gold
  • Twenty-five-dollar bullion coin, $25, quarter troy ounce (~7.8 grams) platinum
  • Ten-dollar bullion coin, $10, tenth troy ounce (~3 grams) platinum
  • Ten-dollar bullion coin, $10, quarter troy ounce (~7.8 grams) gold
  • Five-dollar bullion coin, $5, tenth troy ounce (~3 grams) gold
  • One-dollar bullion coin, $1, one troy ounce (~31 grams) silver

Note: 1 troy ounce = 31.1034768 grams.

Historical denominations of United States coins, which are no longer circulated by the United States Mint

It is a common misconception that "eagle"-based nomenclature for gold U.S. coinage was merely slang. This is not the case. The "eagle," "half-eagle" and "quarter-eagle" were specifically given these names in the Coinage Act of 1792. Likewise, the double eagle was specifically created as such by name ("An Act to authorize the Coinage of Gold Dollars and Double Eagles", title and section 1, March 3, 1849).

The current dollar coin has an image of Sacagawea on the obverse, and is minted of a golden-colored brass-manganese alloy. This "golden dollar" was designed to replace the Susan B. Anthony dollar coin, which was produced from 1979-1981 and again in 1999. The size, weight, and electromagnetic characteristics of the Sacagawea dollar exactly match those of the Susan B. Anthony dollar, avoiding any need to modify vending machines.

External links

Last updated: 10-23-2005 15:56:56
Last updated: 01-04-2007 01:18:57
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